Well, I'm done. My boys are down stairs playing as I sit in front of my computer with a nice hot cup of coffee. Only a few days ago, I was surrounded by desert sand. It has been truly an epic journey for me. I met the most wonderful people (go team silver bill!), expereinced emotion that I never could have anticipated and dug deeper within my being than I have in a long time. The first half of the race was a wonderful experience. The first day gitters were quickly set aside as we raced down that big starting line dune into the Sahara. This day was no cake walk as we entered into extreme heat and a challenging course of the dreaded soft sand that we would see so much of in this years race. I couldn't beleive it - I placed 14th! Wow - I can do this! I even had energy to throw around the nerf rocket that Stuart brought with him. Second day - we were hit with more heat and more soft sand. Adam and I had our intimate moments under the rock that looked like a rabbit and began to see all sorts of animals in the rock formations that we were surrounded by. Even though it took longer than I would have hoped for, we came in 22nd I think it was leaving me 18th overall. Still feeling relatively good. Couple blisters starting to develop but felling good about this adventure. The 3rd stage was the merger of the 3 amigos - Giles, Adam and I. Together we would pull our sorry butts to the finish lines over vast expanse and huge sand dunes. "I think this is the last one", only to have several more come and go which will forever go down as a line from me that my new mates would not let me forget. Stage 4 - Roy from Israel was my ghost for the most part of the race. Everywhere, I looked there was Roy ready to pounce on me. He was a machine - not willing to let me get too far ahead and determined to hunt me down. Stage 4 was no different. I felt I had a little extra energy this day and pulled away from my mates Giles and Adam to make a go of it by myself. It was the stage with the oasis. Roy had come up on Giles, Adam and I and I was determined to not let him go without a fight. As we headed into the Oasis, I did a quick water exchange and didn't go and check out the oasis and hurried to get a little ahead of him. For the next 12km, I constanatly looked over my shoulder to see him just around the corner. At about 2 km to the finish and willing the finish line to be closer I began to lose heart and think that I couldn't keep up my pace. Roy was closing in for the kill when I finally saw those beloved flags on the horizon. My tent mate Stuart had passed through them over an hour earlier to claim the stage with no fan fair and yes NO YELLOW JERSEY!!! I managed to drag my butt across the line just a couple minutes ahead of Roy. Stage 5 - my feet were done before the long stage began. I had duct taped my feet earlier the prior day because my gaiters had come loose. In the process of doing so, I cinched the sides of my shoes so that my pinky toes rubbed all day against the sides. Deep tissue blisters began to form on my heals and under the balls of my feet making it very painful to to walk on let alone run. The first half of the day began with a sand storm with very high winds blowing straight into us. I was in the faster group which started at 9am - so it was hot when we started. My feet were an issue right off the bat and began to take both a physical and mental toll on me. Roy my shadow passed me and I tried to keep with him for about 15km but just couldn't keep his pace and he quickly disappeared into the distance. Giles, Adam and I once again met up again, I think at check point 3 and began our "dead man's march". Together we would spur each other on with encouragement and not so subtle ways to drag, pull, and push ourselves across the finish line 93 km away. I was literally a "dead man"walking by the time we crossed the line. About 20km from the finish line my feet had began to swell and it became unbearably painful to walk. We came across Roy who was forced to stop by the medical team for some mystery rash that had develpoed on his leg. Roy was a great competitor and it was hard to see him so close to the finish and have to be pulled out. I don't think I could have taken another step - my mates Adam and Giles were fantastic and we all had tears as we crossed the line - even Alex who greated us shed a few for us. Stage 6 - After collasping in our tent, I literally had to crawl to the medical tent to get my feet checked out because I couldn't walk. We had a few hours sleep that night but had to wake up at 1am to jump in the bus back for Cairo. Giles and I had great conversation as we drove back all the while I could feel my feet swelling and pulsating. I knew that this last 10 km of a cerimonial run into the pyramids would likely be the longest 10 km of my life and I was right. We were dropped about 7km outside of the pyramids among honking dump drunks, disgusting canals, dead rats, piles of garbage cars trying to run us over - one successful (Matt was hit by a truck). The start came and I shuffled my way into the streets. Everyone was long gone as I tried to muster up some sort of shuffle run - looking more like a 90 year old man having to get to the washroom. With each half hour passing I could feel my placing slip further and further down the standings. All the success from earlier in the week seemed to be slipping away with each painful step. Emotional, I tried to stay focused and pull myself to the finish line. As I finally came to the pyramids I was a wreck. My feet were so painful that with each step I could no longer pretend that it didnt hurt. I stopped to relieve myself only to find blood coming out - later to find out that this from the crushed and dying blood cells in my feet being flushed out of my system. By now the later faster runners who started an hour and half later began to pass me. Scott my fellow Canadian and tent mate stopped risking losing a placing himself to walk the last half km with me and spur me onto the finish line. I finished just short of 3 hours - a 3 hour ten km! Quite crazy when I can run a 40 minute km when healthy. So, this race has been much more than a physical challenge. It became more of an emotional one. I had run this race to raise awareness and research funds for Cysitc Fibrosis - a fatal illness which my 4 year old son has. It became a battle of my mind verses my body. Although, I'm not sure if I would ever do something such as this again. I do know that I would never give up this event of my life for anything. It was truly an epic journey. I met the most wonderful people - my tent mates will forever hold a special place. I was inspired by those who are truly gifted at this sport (Mark, Joany & Andrew) and by those who were out each day all day long in the heat to be determined to finish this race regardless of what place they came in ( the Herdman's - truly inspriational). The volunteers were simply the best. Everyone from the medical team who fixed my feet, the check point station helpers (Stephen - welcome to the party man!) to the media people. Everyone was just great. Thank you for a wonderful experience, a chance to share my thoughts and to everyone who I met - best of luck to you all as you endeavour to continue to challenge yoursleves in what ever adventures that life leads you. Blain

Hi Everyone,

Got in

OK - day 4 finished.

Hi Everyone - today was a good day which I needed.

Well I can say that today was the hardest day physically of my life.

So I'm out running today along a trail. I've got the IPOD playing and it's a beautiful fall day. I cross a bridge covered in early morning frost (fall up here in the great white north) and end up slipping. I grasp for the railing while trying to avoid what seems like a double back flip. I grab onto the railing while doing the splits and up up coming to a stop sliding backward. I look up and there's this 75 year old guy with his trekking poles looking like he just saw the chinese circus ready to applaud. So training is going well. I'm concentrating on time and not distance. I've got my pack at 20 lbs and I pretty sure I'll be the slow and steady guy in the desert. While I'm trying not to injure myself - although you wouldn't know it by my acrobatics today. I'm working out at the gym 3 times a week with running 4 times varying between 1 & 3 hours. I'm looking to taper at the end of next week and head into the week before the race with 5 and 10 km runs. I'm also starting to get some time in the suana. I'm trying to convince my wife that this is "training" but she doesn't seem to be buying it. I also have a couple of appointments booked at the chiropractors and a couple of massages (again, my wife is rolling her eyes). I'm flying into Egypt on the Wednesday. All the flights seem to come in at ungodly hours - 1am in the morning. So a little nervous coming in to a strange city in the mddle of the night and jumping into a cab. I'll do the tourist thing for a couple of days and sit by the pool - do you feel my wife's eyes burning a hole in the back of my head? I have my gear set except for the food - I've been experimenting with the food still. Let me tell you, there is some nasty stuff out there. Say no to "spicy beef pasta" - I'm still feeling it. I need to get my patches put onto my shirts and jacket and then take a look at getting my velcro put onto my shoes for my gaiters. That's about all the news I have - take care! Blain

OK - according to my calendar I am leaving for Egypt in 27 days! I can't wait. I feel that this has been such a journey for me already. Over a year ago I read an article about Sandy McCullum running this race and was inspired to take the plunge and to train and race to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis - a disease that my youngest son has. Since that day, (I would say the number but my log was lost in the fire) I have ran many, many, many km's through training, marathons, half marathons, mountain marathons, and small ultra marathons. I sweated through hours maybe even days at the gym - crunches, pull ups, curls - you name it, did it. I had my son go into the hospital and faced stresses of expectations of others placed upon me. I woke up early one morning to hear that my home had burnt down to the ground. Faced tears of my children, my wife and my own. With all my documents and gear lost in the fire, there was uncertainty of not even being able to participate in this race. I was told that having my birth of citizenship card replaced would take at least 5 months . I need this card to get my passport replaced that I had received just 5 weeks before the fire. However, through the magic strings pulled by my Memeber of Pariliments office secretary - 3 1/2 weeks later, I held it in my hand. So, 27 days to go - I look down at the gear that I have replaced. I feel great about the run I had today, and I think back at this past year and although I have had a great deal of challenges - I am blessed with a wife that loves me, supports me and celebrates life with me. I got to play with my two boys today. I sat and I watched with pride as my six year old continued to learn how to read and have my four year old wrestle me to the ground. I am blessed. So enough of the emotional stuff! Weekly Training: 6 hours running with 20lb pack with 3 hours in gym. Here's my gear so far - couple of changes but 98% figured out. I'm aiming at 20 lbs or less - we haven't bought a scale yet so I may totally be off track! Raidlight runners pack, 2 Ultimate Direction Bottles, Brooks Trance 6 shoes, RTP Gaitors, 1 pair - Mountain Equipment CO-OP (MEC) Running tights, 2 pair - LuLuLemon running shorts, 1 short sleeve Reebok shirt, 1 long sleeve Patagonia shirt, OR desert running hat, Addidas Evalution Sunglasses, RTP buff, Marmot jacket, 3 pair of Injini socks, GeLert sleeping bag, RTP blister kit, Buck Whittaker knife, Princeton head lamp, Gerber back up light, MEC Red Pack light, Swiss Card, garmin forerunner or timex ironman - not sure if the garmin battery will last long enough., 20 pins, Sewing needle and thread, Duct tape wrapped around small pencil, tissues, Moist wipes, Glide, Mug I Tasse Cup, Storm Whistle, Snow peak spork, Dermatone lip balm, Coppertone sport sunscreen, emergency blanket, Ear plugs, 2 IPODS (14 hours each of battery time), Digital Camera, Suunto compass, Nipgaurds, 30 packets of ELoad Heat Endurance Formula, 6 Hammer Recovery Drinks , A pharmacy of Advil, Robax Platinum & Sleep Eze, Toothe paste & travel brush. Still experimenting with food but I'm looking at: 2 packs of porridge X 7, 1 instant coffee X 7, 8 cliff bars, baggie of trail mix, crushed chips and beef jerky X 7, A mix and match of evening food of Backpackers Pantry, AlpineAire & Harvest Food Works X 6 Cheers! Blain

Well, things are moving along after the fire. We have managed to clear up all our insurance questions and paper work. We're still trying to find a place to live while we have the house rebuilt. The economy is booming so much here that it will be a challenge to find the labour to to rebuild. The rental situation is also a little crazy - we will pay more in rent than what our mortgage payment was for our 3 year old home. Just ordered a new pair of shoes on EBAY (Brooks Trance 6). They are $200 Canadian dollars in stores here and I paid $75 Us ($82 Canadian) on EBAY. I sent off my application for a replacement for my citizenship card yesterday. My member of Parliament has been great. They wrote a cover letter explaining my situation which sounds like a really sob story. Father of a son with a fatal disease, wanting to run across the desert to raise money for a cure and now his house burnt down! Sounded bad even to me. They will be tracking it and pushing them to get it processed. I have a marathon on the 12th even though the most I have run in the last week has been 6km. I'm headed out for holiday to Kelowna which is closest to a desert that Canada has to offer. It's hot and dry and will give me opportunity to go for some theraputic long runs in the heat. When I get back I'll begin to rebuild my gear that I lost in the fire and use the marathon to kick start my training again. Take care everyone and best of luck to all the Atacama Competitors. Blain

Hi Everyone - thank you to all those well wishers. My family is doing as well as can be expected. We're trying to settle insurance claims and find a home that we can live in until our house is built again. Unfortunately, my passport and birth certificate along with all of my gear were in the fire. I was born to a military dad in Germany and I'm finding out to get a replacement certificate for my situation is no easy task. I need this ID to re-apply for my passport which I just got renewed 4 weeks ago. So I have my Member of Parliment making some phone calls on my behalf to try and pull any strings. So for now, I am doing everything I can do to be in the Sahara Desert come October. My first priority is to get my family settled and into a normal life routine again. With all this my training is fallen completly. Here is a link to the story to the fire if you wish to look... http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070721/edmonton_fire_070721/20070721?hub=Canada Take care - Blain

Today my house and everything in it burnt down in the

Hi Everyone, First, I want to say congratulations to all the Gobi competitors. It was quite addicting following you via internet throughout the race. It seems that all, aside from one unnamed competitor - seemed to really enjoy their experience. It's been awhile since my last blog but I wanted to wait until I competed in the "Powderface 42" so that I actually had something to say. The Powderface 42 is marathon that takes place in the Rocky Mountains of western Canada. I was unsure what I had signed up for until I began the race. Having just competed in it this past afternoon, I have to say that it was to date (this will change come October) the most physically challenging venture that I have participated in. The course is in high altitude which affected my body in ways that I did not expect. You do not realize how much you value air until you can't seem to get enough. The race starts and finishes at an elevation of 1400 meters and rises to its highest point at just over 2000 meters. To boot, it was 35 degrees out with the weather people saying it would feel more like 41 degrees. The race took place 4 hours from my home so I chose to camp the night before - bad choice. the campers next to me partied until 3am - giving me only 3 hours of solid sleep before I needed to go pick up my pre race package. Here is the link to the course outline if you want to check it out - www.powderface42.com/raceinfo/course/index.html So, this was as close to the Sahara that I was going to get. As I stared at a mountain range that I would soon run up, over and around - I was tired, it was going to be very hot, and questioning my sanity - perfect. As I said, the affects of altitude was very surprising - only 10 km in, I was wondering why my lungs had suddenly shrunk. In May, I ran a 50km trailrace, thinking that this was quite a feet. I shared that my legs began to cramp later in the race with all the ups and downs. That was nothing. Today, I looked up at a mountain face with shale coved switch backs that never seemed to end. When I would finally reach the top, I would discover the shale covered quad burning steep descent down the otherside. All in all, I would make my way through the course thinking that the next extreme ascent would be the last, and it would of course not be. Heat exhaustion setting in, my mind would begin to play games with me. It would take me almost a full hour longer to do this 42km compared to the 50km race I did in May. So here are some things that I have taken away from todays ordeal. 1. A good nights sleep is essential - bring a good pair of ear plugs! 2. The quad extension excercises that I've been doing since my 50km where I had some major cramping, definately have helped. 3. Staying not only hydrated but managing my electrolytes in such hot weather is essential - I took salt pills and they were great. 4. Trying to push hard to the finish with nothing left in my camelpack was not a good idea. Sure I passed people and finished ahead of them but I came way to close to passing out at the finish. 5. My Injini socks work really well to prevent blisters. I had six blisters in May with a normal pair of running socks and only one today with Injini's in harsher conditions. 6. Lastly, it is always better to swollow your pride and slow down than to push yourself past your limits and regret it later. So, I have 2 more marathons scheduled and hopefully a training weekend to continue my training. I'm feeling much more confident with each passing "test" that I will be able to do this insane challenge called the Sahara Race. Even more important, what my limits and capabilites will be to get me across that finish line. Take care gang - good luck to Atacama competitors! Blain

This past weekend was my official welcome into the world of ultra distance running. When I say introduction, I mean that there is a whole culture of you crazy nuts out there. I guess it was also my welcome to the nutbar club as well. I competed in a 50km trail run called the "Blackfoot Ultra". There were also 25 km, 80 km and 100 km runners. Getting passed on my second lap of a 25 km loop by a guy that had started at 5am on his 4th lap of a 100 km run, was both humbling and awe inspiring.

We had the priviledge to head down to Florida for a family vacation.

I see them looking at me.

To be honest - I'm not too sure what to write this month.

Over the holidays we received some great news.

November was a good month for strength training.

Well, I guess first things first.